Bits for my boat, my normal, careful, value seeking instincts evaporate.

johnphilip

johnphilip

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The boat house batteries lost all their charge whilst standing for three weeks. Time for new.
Value purchase Alphaline, http://www.batterymegastore.co.uk/product/XV110+x2/ Two fairly good batteries for £138. 4 Year Warranty

On Alpha's own site they are shown as standing fewer discharge cycles than their next range, but that is not available in the low height size I need.

Alternative AGM Batteries http://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/agm-gel-leisure-batteries/xplorer-110ah-agm-battery/ 5 Year Warranty.The bees knees but £120 EACH.

I feel that just because it is my boat I am trying to justify a barely needed additional expenditure. Will I even still be sailing in 4-6 years time?
I always scorn the cosmetic industry where customers are lead to believe something is better if it costs more. I am guilty of the same approach to this purchase.
I know AGM are good but really should I even consider it for a boat that has managed to keep the much maligned Elecsol batteries going since March 2008?
 
Three weeks? Are you sure there isn't a discharge somewhere? If not then they are truly knackered.

My two Numax leisure batteries have lasted 4 or 5 years and still hold their charge very well. As a UK marina dweller and coastal hopper I can't see the value in expensive batteries. If I lived aboard of cruised for months at a time then maybe.
 
MoodySabre said:
Three weeks? Are you sure there isn't a discharge somewhere? If not then they are truly knackered.
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I will be checking again before purchase but the only discharge with the battery switches off are the bilge pump, which has not run, and the old Navtex receiver which at 50Ma will have only used 25 AH in that time out of a capacity of 220 AH. TheNavtex has never been an issue before.
 
Personally I'd stick with the Alphaline's from Battery Megastore.

My previous set lasted 5 years, and I only had to replace them because a power outage caused my fridge to drain them flat, and sit like that for a few months. I replaced with the same a couple of years ago and have had no problems. Good value for money if you ask me, and they deliver to the boat free of charge.
 
abraxus said:
Personally I'd stick with the Alphaline's from Battery Megastore.
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+1. If the OP has to spend £140 every 5 years on batteries then that's the smallest part of the TCO of boat ownership as far as I'm concerned. Personally I think it's necessary to look at batteries as consumeables and not get overwrought about "quality" but concentrate on value with the understanding that they need to be replaced periodically. I own an alphaline as well as another very similar (but not identical) battery and would happiley replace like-for like every so often. The price quoted above seems good to me.

Boo2
 
sailorman said:
Fitting an Adverc will transform your 12v system
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I am sure they are excellent but a previous boat had an enhanced charging gizmo that doubled as a battery boiler. I still remember the smell in the cabin if you forgot to press an over ride button. I am afraid I will never be persuaded to muck about with the alternator charging after that.
In practice we are either in a marina or motoring enough to prevent me worrying about battery power available. We don't seem to anchor for days at a time.
 
I usually get about six seasons out of the cheapest possible batteries, so I've never seen the point of forking out twice as much to get maybe half as much again.
 
johnalison said:
I usually get about six seasons out of the cheapest possible batteries, so I've never seen the point of forking out twice as much to get maybe half as much again.
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I am in to my 12th year with 2x255Ah Lifeline AGM batteries, apparently still going strong....fingers crossed.
 
I've stuck with Varta 813010/A28 110Ah leisure batteries for compatibility reasons, and been very pleased. But they're about £100-110 apiece so the Alphaline price you cite does look good.
 
johnphilip said:
The boat house batteries lost all their charge whilst standing for three weeks. Time for new.
Value purchase Alphaline, http://www.batterymegastore.co.uk/product/XV110+x2/ Two fairly good batteries for £138. 4 Year Warranty
Click to expand...

I'm either misreading the link you give, or I'm misunderstanding your post!

Those batteries are £138 each, aren't they?

Edit: Hold the phone!! You're right....that is for two.
 
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